Commuters help remove tree on Highway 17

High winds knocked down an enormous redwood near the summit of Highway 17 at approximately 3 p.m. Monday, blocking all four lanes and prompting a massive effort to clear the roadway by stranded travelers.
Within minutes of the incident, witnesses reported that members of the public had begun clearing one direction of the highway with chainsaws while others helped clear the debris. In less than 45 minutes, the northbound lanes were cleared.